Printer Connect Status Display for Cloud Service Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require users to manually check the registration and usage status of various services on multiple information processing apparatuses, making it difficult to grasp the status of network-related services for electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that facilitates the registration of user and printer information with a cloud print service, enabling seamless integration and display of service usage status through a unified interface, using a printer connect service to manage and display the registration and usage status of electronic devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users manually check registration and usage status on multiple information processing apparatuses, then service usage status can be monitored, but user operation complexity increases and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice usage status informationVSAvoidtime to check status across multiple devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the usage status information from multiple information processing apparatuses into a single unified display on one device. The usage status display unit aggregates registration and usage status from multiple devices (smartphone, PC, printer) and presents them together, eliminating the need to check each device separately and thus reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary display mechanism that acts as a mediator between multiple information processing apparatuses and the user. This display unit serves as an intermediary that collects status information from various devices and presents it in a consolidated manner, reducing the complexity of manually checking each device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If service usage status is displayed on multiple information processing apparatuses, then status visibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice usage status informationVSAvoidsystem complexity for managing multiple displays
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display functions into a single information processing apparatus. Instead of implementing display capabilities on multiple devices, the system consolidates the usage status display on one device that can access and show information from multiple sources, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining information visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If cloud print service registration is simplified, then ease of operation improves, but registration accuracy may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice registration processVSAvoidregistration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the usage status display unit provides real-time information about registration status and usage state. This feedback allows users to verify that registration has been completed correctly, maintaining registration accuracy while keeping the process simple. The system automatically detects and displays registration status, providing confirmation without requiring complex manual verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4701177A1Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, program, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 CANON KK
  • EP4701177A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4701177A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4701177A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

If a printer (102) is not compatible with a printer connect service (103), a usage status display button is hidden to indicate that the printer is not compatible with the printer connect service (103). If the printer (102) is compatible with the printer connect service (103), the usage status display button (521) is in one of three display states, in which the usage status display button (521) is displayed to indicate that the printer (102) is compatible with the printer connect service (103). The three display states correspond to a case where the user is not registered with the printer connect service (103), a case where the user is registered with the printer connect service (103) and logged in to the printer connect service (103), and a case where the user is registered with the printer connect service (103) and not logged in to the printer connect service (103).